Rob Lutes is a Montreal-based, Maritime-born artist who spent ten years as a writer and editor before discovering that his passion was songwriting and performing. His rhythmic finger-style guitar playing coupled with his intense vocals have evolved into a unique signature style. Rob’s ability to encapsulate universal ideas and questions, even the subtle ones, coupled with his gritty, heartfelt delivery and world-class performance chops, have invited comparisons with several legends in the roots genre from John Hiatt to Fred Eaglesmith.

Rob has released four albums in the last eight years. His most recent CD, Truth & Fiction, was recorded in the fall of 2008 with noted Boston-area producer David Goodrich (Chris Smither, Peter Mulvey). He has played many prestigious festivals including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Ottawa BluesFest, the Stan Rogers Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. His accolades include winning the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting competition and the Philadelphia Songwriters Project Road Song contest and nominations from Le Net Blues in Quebec, Billy Bock’s Americana Contest in Nashville and The Toronto Blues Society.

“A brilliantly understated gem.” - Toronto Star (Greg Quill)

“Probably the best-kept secret on the Montreal folk-blues scene. A must for every fan of folk music.” - Paroles et Musique

“A great songwriter, a man with a great way with words and also a fantastic guitar picker!” - Michael Jerome Browne

Brent Nielsen may be familiar to you from his day job; he's the host of 13 Tracks on CBC Radio One. However, he's also a singer-songwriter with blues roots who lives in Regina. Brent's influences range from the pre-war gospel blues of Blind Willie Johnson to the slice-of-life songs of John Prine.